BE 478: Avoid These Verbs in Business Emails

In this episode of the Business English podcast, Lindsay and Aubrey discuss informal verbs and contractions that should be avoided in professional business emails and other written communication. They analyze an example email containing such informalities and provide suitable alternatives for phrases like "let me know," "gonna," "wanna," "gotta," "sorta," and "kinda." The hosts emphasize that while these forms are acceptable in spoken English, especially in casual conversation, they can diminish credibility and professionalism when used in writing. They also touch on the nuances of formality in different communication contexts, including internal messaging platforms like Slack and Teams, and share the results of a listener poll regarding politeness in direct requests. The episode concludes with a role play demonstrating appropriate language in a professional phone call and a preview of a new listener poll on the challenges of determining the right level of formality in emails.